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Office of the City Clerk
February 12, 2003



Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - - 7:30 p.m.


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OPENING

1. Calling the Roll.

The Meeting was called to Order by Mayor Donley, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present except Councilman Speck.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Invocation -- Moment of Silence.

City Council observed a moment of silence and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting of January 25, 2003; and

(b) The Regular Meeting of January 28, 2003.

City Council approved the Minutes for (a) the Public Hearing Meeting of January 25, 2003; and (b) the Regular Meeting of January 28, 2003, as submitted.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

4. Report of the City Clerk.

City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

5. Recognition of Students from T.C. Williams Who were Recognized by the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA).

City Council congratulated the T.C. Williams High School students who were recognized by the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA), commended them for their efforts, and wished them well in the State competition.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________




OPENING (continued)

6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of February 2003, as Black History Month in the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Fifteen-Year Anniversary of the Domestic Violence Intervention Project in the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-9) (14-16)

Without objection, City Council withdrew docket item no. 9 from the Consent Calendar and considered it under separate motion.

8. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
1 Representative From the Arts With Expertise in Museum Exhibition Work

(b) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
2 Citizen Members

(c) Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Citizen Member Who is 60 Years of Age or Older

(d) Alexandria Commission on Information Technology
1 Member Representing the Holder of the City’s Cable Television
Franchise

(e) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
2 Citizen Members (Both Must Have A Disability)

(f) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors
1 Hotel Owner/Manager Representative

(g) Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council
2 Citizen Members

(h) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member From Planning District II

1 Representative From the Lee-Fendall House

(i) Alexandria Library Board
2 Citizen Members



REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

(j) Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission
1 Representative of the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council

(k) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission

9. Update on Neighborhood Partnership Program and Announcement of Request for Proposals.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

8. City Council (a) reappointed Sandra Tinkham as a Representative from the Arts with expertise in museum exhibition work to the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (b) reappointed Kay Harbinson and waived the residency requirement for and appointed Diana Papazian as Citizen Members to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (c) appointed Mary Parker as a Citizen Member who is 60 years of age or older to the Alexandria Commission on Aging; (d) reappointed Marie Schuler as a Member representing the holder of the City's Cable Television Franchise to the Alexandria Commission on Information Technology; (e) reappointed Robert Holland and Ruth Soto as Citizen Members (both must have a disability) to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (f) waived the residency requirement and appointed Mary Anne Russell as a Hotel Owner/Manager Representative to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (g) reappointed Pamela Copley and appointed Michael Carrasco as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council; (h) appointed Scott Rowson as a Member from Planning District II and waived the residency requirement and appointed Kristin Miller as a Representative from the Lee-Fendall House Museum to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (i) reappointed Louise Forstall and Stefan Shrier as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Library Board; (j) appointed Nicholas Peake as a Representative of the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council to the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; and (k) reappointed Adam Wilson as a Representative from the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

9. City Council received this report. (Separate motion)

14. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, February 22, 2003.

15. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, February 22, 2003.

16. City Council noted the deferral.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

10. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 2003 General Assembly Session.

City Council approved the following legislative positions as recommended by the City Council's Legislative Subcommittee: (1) Opposed HB 1678, which seeks to regulate local residential rental inspection programs; and (2) Opposed the following House and Senate budget proposals: (a) Requiring the City to remit to the State at least $1.1 million of the federal payments the City receives for housing federal prisoners (House); (b) Decreasing HB 599 local law enforcement payments (House); (c) Changing the process for State funding of the Arlandria Clinic, thus making it more difficult for the Clinic to be assured of State funding in the future (House); (d) Eliminating funding for Project Discovery (House); (e) Reducing State payments for constitutional officers and their staffs (House and Senate); and (f) Reducing TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funding for domestic violence, homeless assistance, and Healthy Families programs (House).
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

11. Verbal Report on the Three Corners of Lower King Street.

Without objection, this was deferred.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

12. Consideration of the FY 2002 City Workforce Utilization Analysis and FY 2002 Applicant Tracking Report.

City Council received the reports and thanked the members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, the Commission for Women, the Human Rights Commission, and the Commission on Aging for the assistance they have provided in the preparation of the reports.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Verbal Report from the Police Department and Commonwealth's Attorney's Office on Programs in Arlandria.

Councilwoman Woodson would like a report on crime statistics in Arlandria and how the crime has decreased.

Commonwealth's Attorney Sengel, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Cullen, Community Outreach Specialist Lasso, Deputy Police Chief Hilleary, Residential Police Officer Seckler and Police Officer Roland reported on the value of the Community Prosecution Program and the Community Support Program in Arlandria, and responded to queries posed to them by Members of City Council.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________


REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None






ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilwoman Woodson requested that the blue recycling trash cans be provided to Council Members at their places on the dais.

(b) Councilwoman Woodson announced to the citizens that there is a City Council election coming up in May. There are several forums scheduled so far as follows: Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 p.m. at Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center which will be a forum on education and children's issues; Monday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. at Patrick Henry Elementary School; Monday, March 17, 7:30 p.m., at George Mason Elementary School; Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m., a candidate's forum at the Holiday Inn on First Street; and Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 p.m., at Lyles Crouch School. These are opportunities for the citizens to come and hear the various candidates and make decisions that will motivate them to go to the polls and vote.

(c) Councilwoman Woodson spoke to increasing tax assessments and noted that there are a lot of seniors on fixed-income and it is very difficult for them to keep pace with that. She asked staff what is the possibility for creating a ceiling and deferring taxes until the owner either passes away or sells the property.

Director of Finance Neckel, City Manager Sunderland and City Attorney Pessoa responded to her concern and will report back with options for the Council to consider.

Councilman Euille requested staff to provide Council with all of the options to make it work.

(d) Councilwoman Pepper requested an overview on what the City is doing regarding the Code Orange Alert.

Police Chief Samarra, Code Enforcement Director Dahlberg and Acting Fire Chief Gower reported on what steps are being taken and of what issues the citizens and business should be made aware.

City Manager Sunderland provided Council with a copy of "Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness" which was prepared by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. It will be distributed to subscribers to The Washington Post this coming Sunday. In addition, it is posted on the City's website at ci.alexandria.va.us.

(e) Councilwoman Eberwein asked the City Manager to meet with members of the Carlyle Towers Condominium Board, the U.S. Marshal's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office to decide what is going to happen to the security items which were provided by the Federal government and whether they would be turned over to the City for potential reuse, or whether they would take them away.

(f) Councilwoman Eberwein questioned the City Manager on the status of hiring a Human Services Director.

City Manager Sunderland responded that the applications are being solicited and projected that interviews will take place in March.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________






REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

(a) City Manager Sunderland reported on the CY 2003 Real Property Assessment Information.

(A copy of Ms. Smith-Page's memorandum dated February 11, 2003, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council.)

Councilwoman Woodson and Councilman Euille indicated that the affordable housing program is not keeping pace with the real estate market; thus, Council needs to revisit it. Councilman Euille stated that the Affordable Housing Task Force will be making some recommendations to the Manager for Council consideration very shortly.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

CONSENT CALENDAR (14-16)

14. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend Title 2, Chapter 4 of the City Code to establish the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee by ordinance as a standing committee, and revise the qualifications for membership.

15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend the provisions of Title 3, Chapter 2 of the City Code to revise the criteria for real estate tax exemptions and deferrals for the elderly and disabled.

16. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance making supplemental appropriations for the support of the government of the City of Alexandria.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

With respect to docket item nos. 14 and 15, City Council introduced and passed the Ordinances on their First Reading, set them for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, February 22, 2003. Regarding docket item no. 16, City Council noted the deferral.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)

17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Reading of an Ordinance to adopt Supplement Number 31 to the Zoning Ordinance. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on its First and Second Readings. ORD. NO. 4290
Council Action:_________________________________________________________






OTHER

18. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council: (1) received the revised calendar which includes: (a) the work session with Congressman James Moran on Monday, February 24, at 8:00 a.m. in the Council workroom; (b) the work session on the Taxicab Task Force Report at 6:00 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, February 25 legislative meeting; (c) the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Alexandria Transit Company at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, in the Council workroom, immediately after the scheduled work session to discuss the Taxicab Task Force Report; and (2) scheduled a work session with the Department of Human Services staff on child welfare issues and the viewing of the "Our Kids-Our Business: Protect, Foster, Adopt Alexandria's Children" video at 6:00 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, March 25 legislative meeting.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

19. Alexandria Beautification Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Jennifer Pugh as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Beautification Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

20. Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Citizen-at-Large

City Council reappointed Debra Roepke as a Citizen-at-Large to the Alexandria Commission on Employment.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

21. Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Citizen Member (#20 1/28/03)

City Council appointed Jeffrey McAllister as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

22. Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Candace Lightner as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 1. At 10:18 p.m., City Council convened in executive session at this time, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia, for the purpose of discussing prospective candidates for the position of city clerk.

At 11:00 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the executive session.
RES. NO. 2059

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The Meeting was adjourned at 11:05 p.m.
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Note: The action docket is a summary of Council's meeting deliberations prepared largely for staff follow-up. Formal Minutes of the meeting, when approved by Council, become the official record of the meeting and of Council decisions made at the meeting.
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Public Notice

The City Council Legislative Subcommittee Meeting to be held in the Council Workroom beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2003 has been canceled.

This docket is subject to change.

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Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council. Meeting materials are also available on-line at https://alexandriava.gov/council.
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Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
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Individuals who require translation services to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500. We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
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